Projectile



March 13, 11945. J. H. CHURCH ETAL 2,371,151

PROJECTILE Filed March 22, 1941 INVEN 5 LT useph H LIIEh BY Wilfred E Thib D EEl'Ll wW J W ATTOQIEYS ?atenteai Mar. 33 3%35 attain caries ZPRQJEUIIELIE Joseph H. ilhurch, Austin, Minn, and Wiifired 1E. 'lihibodeau, Cleveland, @hio (Granted under the act or March 3, lists, as amended April 3d, 1928; 379 iii). G. 755?) d @laims.

The invention described herein may be manuactured and used by or for the Government for :overnmental purposes, without the payment to is of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a projectile.

Grenades projected from a rifle or discharged y means of the gases from a blank cartridge lave a limited range and a, low velocity. For his reason the conventional inertia firing pins lave a slow action on impact.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a lring mechanism in which an outside element f the projectile may be coupled to the firing in to increase its weight. Another object is o associate a safety member or unit with the iring mechanism in a novel manner.

The specific nature of the invention as well .5 other objects and advantages thereof will :learly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying lrawing in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of the mproved projectile;

Figs. 2 to 6 are longitudinal sections of modiications thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a projectile n the form of a rifle grenade which comprises a :ylindricai casing or body 5 carrying an explosive :harge 6 and primer '5. The body is slidably itted in a cup whose side wall ii may be of any ieight short of the front edge of the body and yhose base 9 carries a tail member such as a rod or tube iii which is adapted to be slidably mounted in or on a rifle barrel or similar device.

The cup is'normally connected to the body by neans oi a bolt it which is inserted in an apermre i2 in the wall it and partially in a passage it in the body and serves to space the base d rom the body to maintain a firing pin it carried 3y the base in safe relation with respect to the arimer l. A spring is normally tends to eject he bolt which is restrained by a set-back pin it mounted in the base and held in engagement with the bolt by a spring it.

The body is also maintained in spaced reation to the base of the cup by means of a pin it removable before firing and placed in any :onvenient position. A shear pin is also conaects the body and cup and couples the memoers in spaced relation during flight.

In operation when the projectile is impelled, as by the gases of a blank cartridge fired in a rifle, the pin it sets back, and the bolt in is ejected at the commencement of flight. on impact the body 5 is arrested and the cup and tube continue forwardly to drive the firing pin into the primer.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the body as has a tapered read end. A sleeve 29 threaded in the rear end and carrying a primer 2i has an external flange 22 spaced from the rear end of the body. A tube 28 having an internal flange 2d forwardly engaging the flange 22 is formed with an annular shoulder 25. A disk as fitted within the tube is seated on a packing ring 2i seated on the shoulder and is adapted to receive the force of the propelling gases. A firing pin 28 disposed in front of the disk may be carried thereby.

One or more coupling members, herein shown as balls 29, are disposed between the flange 2t and the body is and transmit the ir'npelling force from the tube to the body. The halls are caged by a set-back sleeve, herein shown as a helical member to with spaced convolutions, formed of a non-resilient material such as copper which will remain permanently collapsed after set-back. At the commencement of flight the pressure exerted by the tube may act to temporarily hold the balls in place and when pressure is relieved by the drag of the tube the balls will fall clear so that on impact the tube will continue forwardly to drive the firing pin into the primer. A safety pin 8i, removable before firing, may readily be installed.

'On inclined impact the whipping action on the tail will cause it to incline with respect to the axis of the projectile and this tilting will be suficient to enable the flring pin to penetrate the primer.

in Fig. 3 a combustible material 82 such as black powder is used to transmit the impelling force from the tube 83 to the body 3 3. A disk 35 of asbestos is interposed between the powder 32 and the primer lit and this disk is penetrated by the firing pin all when the powder is consumed and no longer constitutes a barrier. Flash passages 3&3 are formed in the end of the tube and vents as may be provided for the products of combustion. Shear pins as are provided to maintain the coupling during flight.

In Fig. i the tube M is coupled to a sleeve 62 by a hollow apertured pin :33 containing a combustible 66.

In Fig. .5 the hollow pin 35 has its ends disposed in grooves it-6 of the sleeve all and a shear pin 68 connection is also provided.

In Fig. 6 the bolt :39 connects the tube and sleeve 59 and is urged outwardly by a spring 52 mounted in a plug 63 closing the front end of the tube. A set-back sleeve, I4 confining the bolt is normally held in place by a spring 65.

We claim: 1. A projectile comprising a main body portio carrying a primer, firing means comprising an adapter for attachment to a discharging member and including a firing pin, and detent means between said main body portion and said firing means holding the firing pin of the latter spaced from the primer, said detent means comprising a combustible material, and being accessible to the gases of propulsion,

2. A projectile comprising a main body portion carrying a primer, firing means comprising an adapter for attachment to a'discharge member, and coupling means between said main body portion and said firing means holding the latter spaced from the primer, said coupling means comprising a tubular metal pin containing a com bustible material and having openings for igni tion thereof and for exhaust of the product of combustion. 5 3. A projectile according to claim 2 in whicl said projectile comprises a hollow tail and 851i firing means comprises a tube fitted therein;

4. A projectile comprising a main body portlol carrying a primer, an adapter for attachment t a discharging member and comprising firin| means for the primer, a shearable coupling be tween said adapter and said main body portior holding said firing means spaced from said prime] and a combustible material between said adapts: 15 and said primer.

JOSEPH H. CHURCH. WILFRED E. THIBODEAU. 

